Instead of fighting the invaders, some English kings preferred
to pay the Vikings to leave them in peace. These payments were
called 'Danegeld'.

The Vikings collected tribute in other countries too.
In Ireland in the 9th century they imposed a tax and slit the noses of anyone
unwilling or unable to pay, and that is the origin of the English
phrase 'to pay through the nose' meaning to pay an excessive
price.

The English king who paid the most Danegeld was Aethelred II.
During his reign (978-1016) nearly 40 million pennies were produced in order to
pay Danegeld.

Finally Aethelred decided to fight and he introduced a new
tax to pay for a larger army. However Aethelred was
completely defeated and the Viking's leader, Knut, became king of England, and later king of Denmark and Norway as well.